Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-11-10
HEROINE AND MARTYR.

The French army has lost the day!
For the last three hours the soldiers
crossed the village of Chaille. The re-
treat had commenced. Cannons, bag
gage, infantry, cavalry, all were mixed to
gether. The officers tried no more to
bring order and regularity among their
men, or to stop the disaster.
Toward the evneing the retreat had be-
come heller SHELTER, the vanquished de-
creasing in number, a few cavalry men.
and nothing.
But in the last rays of the sun the peo-
pie of the village saw dozen of soldiers
coming on the road. From time to time
thew turned around and fired shots at
the enemy.
Far off, black spot, then two, then
twenty, then 100, detached themselves on
the line of the majestic trees.
Those black spots we're the Germans!
Arriving in the village, that dozen of
soldiers forming the rear guard was what
was left of the rear guard of the army of
La Coire; they stopped.
The captain who commanded them had
chosen good position between two big
houses.
ssHurry up, boys" said he to his men;
sswe will erect barricade here. 1t shall
not be said that those sauerkraut eaters
have entered this village as III a church.
Burst open the doors if necessary, and
once more hurry up"
That captain had the tone firm, and
face expressed anger and determination;
his men, old African Zouaves and Iurcos,
enraged fighters were not apprentices In
the art of building barricades. In less
than quarter of an hour the street was
made impossible by cars of manure, mat
tresses, doors, shutters; in fact, every
thing bulky was employed for that pur-
pose.
The captain, who had picked up a gun
on the battlefield, was relo, ding it when a
tall mani With pale face approached
him
Excuse me, captain; are you the Off
Ger in commands"
eyes"
"Believe, me, sir, rehounce to defend
this village against an enemy twenty
times-1OO times-more numerous than
you are; you shall not be successful, of
course, and you will cause our village to
be set on fire by the Germans"
The captain looked at his inte1locu-
tor with an immense expression of dis
gust.
'sWhat do you say? Will you go away
mighty quick, or else I shall send you
to"-
And the captain took the man by the
neck and was in way to strangle him
when tall old man with white hair
emerged from house near by.
"Lst him go, captain, he is not worth
the strangulation; my name is Pierre
and l am vine dresser" said the cid
man, addressing the officer. Then turn
irg to the coward, he added: SEC to
your home, monsieur the mayor; If you
are unwilling to do your duty, at least do
not prevent others to accomplish it. You
see, captain, the mayor is monsieur from
the city, sent to US by the imperial gov
eminent; all his fortune is in this village,
in which he owns several buildings, and if
the Germans set them on fire he shall be
ruined. am myself in the same case;
if my cabin is destroyed I do not know
what will remain for my granddaughter
Jacqueline. But what do you want
sir? France, our country, before any
thing"
The captain was touched, and remov-
ing his cap he said I'd the patriot:
"You are a brave man, and God bless
you"
And an old soldier" replied the vine
my Cross of the Legion Of Honor given
to me by the emperor himself, the great
Napoleon! Now, captain, if you have a
gun to lend me I will show you that I
know how to handle it."
At this mo lent lively musketry was
heard from 10 other side of the barrl-
cade. The ermans were coming.
The vilag was deserted by its lnhabl-
tants, women, children, cripples and old
people had departed, taking with them
verything they could carry.
The able bodied men in the army.
The battle began; the bullets whlstled
in the air and 1atttened themselves
against the walls. The French held the
place well, and Papa Pierre, the vine
dresser, bareheaded, his hair to the wind
fired his gun bravely, while his grand
daughter loaded the firepiece after each
discharge.
Suddenly a bombsheu at ten yards
from the barrIcade.
'Sacre n. de DIP exclaimed the cap
tain, ''they lombard Us now, IN ten MIN
utes we will have to go if
He had not time to end his phrase
when second projectile, passing through
the roof of the shelter, covered him and
his soldiers with dust; happily no one
was wounded, alone Jacqueline had utter
ed a cry. The emotion was too much for
the young girl-she tainted.
''You must retire, captain said Papa
Pierre to the officer; "but 1 will remaiu
here. I have some cartridges left; shall
fire them off. Coz
"Never." exclaimed the captain. eve
shall die here
81 tell you to retire: you are RESPONSE
ble before God and before the country
for the life of your men. To remain here
is simply madness and not bravery. How
can you defend this village with guns